ANC STALWART CURNICK NDLOVU DIES

Issued by African National Congress - KwaZulu-Natal

22 May 2002

The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal has lost one of its longest serving members. Comrade Curnick Mzuvukile Ndlovu passed away in the early hours of today at Highway Hospice at Sherwood in eThekwini (Durban) after a long battle with cancer.

Cde Curnick was born in Matatiele, in southern KwaZulu-Natal in 1932. His parents moved to Durban's famous African settlement Umkhumbane in 1941 in search of work. It is where he was forced to get involved in politics due to squalid conditions underwhich the African majority was living. He joined the movement at a tender age of 20 in 1953 at the height of the Defiance Campaign..

Like all everybody who grew up in the 50s and 60s, Cde Curnick was also subjected to the ruthlessness of the apartheid regime. He was a victim of the infamous pass laws and other injustices that were perpetrated against the African people.

When the ANC's military wing was formed in 1960, Cde Curnick became its Natal Commander and maintained a contact between the people and the ANC leadership in exile. He also helped arrange the exit to exile of then young Thabo Mbeki, now President of the ANC and the country. He was arrested in Durban in 1962 and charged with sabotage. He was then sentenced to 20 years imprisonment on Robben Island, where he met Rivonia trialists Nelson Mandela and Walter Sisulu, among others. The MK had recently bombed Natalia, a newspaper building in Umbilo, Durban.

Cde Curnick, a unifier, a true leader and a non-racist, fought for better living conditions in prison. He played a pivotal role in uniting political prisoners on the Island and also recruited comrades from Black Consciousness Movement (BCM), some of whom are prominent leaders in the ANC and Government today. He worked with other prominent ANC leaders like former President Chief Albert Luthuli, Dr Monty Naicker, Dr Yusuf Dadoo, Moses Kotana, Govan Mbeki and Ruth First.

When the ANC came into power after the democratic elections in 1994, he was elected to serve in the National Assembly. He retired in 1999 due to ill health. Cde Curnick served the ANC loyally and selflessly for the rest of his life and will be sadly missed. It is regrettable that he did not leave longer enough to enjoy the fruits of the liberation he dedicated all his life to. Cde Curnick¹s soul will propel us to intensify the struggle for pushing away frontiers of poverty for the expansion of accessibility to the better life of our people.

He leaves behind his wife Beauty, daughter Zethu and granddaughter Siphokazi in KwaMashu.

The ANC conveys its hertfelt condolences to the Ndlovu family. May his soul rest in peace.

Lala kahle Gathseni, Boya Benyathi!!

Funeral arrangements will be announced as soon as they are finalised.

Contact Chairperson S'bu Ndebele on 082 553 3592 or Mtholephi Mthimkhulu on 082 702 9729